Pakistan restricted to 135-7 by Windies

KINGSTOWN: An unbeaten 46 from Umar Akmal boosted a flagging Pakistan as they eventually reached 135 for seven against the West Indies in the second and final Twenty20 international at the Arnos Vale Stadium on Sunday.

Seeking a 2-0 sweep of the series following a last-ball, two-wicket win in the first match the day before, the wicketkeeper-batsman's late assault in lifting the tourists from 109 for seven in the 18th over could prove crucial on a pitch where his captain, Mohammad Hafeez, felt any score in excess of 130 could be a winning one.

Despite 44 from opening batsman Ahmed Shehzad, it appeared as if Hafeez would have been made to regret the decision to bat first on winning the toss.

He fell cheaply to Samuel Badree and with wickets continuing to tumble at regular intervals, West Indies appeared to have their opponents in a real stranglehold as they struggled to get the ball on a blistering afternoon.

Badree's effort of two for 20 was a vast improvement from the previous day but it was his Trinidad and Tobago compatriot and fellow spinner Sunil Narine who finished with the best figures of three for 26. (AFP)